"What else could I say?" Qin Yi said bluntly. "Anyway, I promised Qin Shi Huang that I would tell them about this. Whether they believe it or not is beyond my concern."
Qin Rong's headache worsened at that.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this yet. We should go tell Grandpa the whole story first!" As Qin Yi spoke, he tidied up and grabbed Qin Rong's hand, ready to head downstairs.
"Wait, didn't we just come back from Grandpa's place?" Qin Rong looked helpless. "We just got back, and now you're going over there again—"
Qin Yi thought about it and realized that was true. He had spent several days on the Rainbow Continent, yet no time had passed here. He immediately shook his head in frustration. "What a hassle."
Still, he handed Qin Rong the storage ring he had prepared for him in the space. "This is the gift I picked out for you on the Rainbow Continent. It's a ring that can store things. Take a look—do you like it?"
Qin Rong took the ring and poured his True Force into it to inspect its interior, finding it quite fascinating as well. "This really is a good thing. From now on, there'll be no need to carry big bags and little bundles when going out."
"And once it recognizes you as its master, it'll only follow you. Even if someone wants to steal it, they won't be able to." Qin Yi added.
"Mm-hm!" Qin Rong nodded repeatedly. Seeing the furnishings in the room, an idea struck him, and he began experimenting back and forth.
"You two, come in for a moment!" Andre suddenly called from within the space.
"???"
Qin Yi and Qin Rong entered the space suspiciously. Within the magnificent palace, Andre sat upright upon the throne, his expression solemn.
"Ah, do you really have to be this serious?" Qin Yi laughed and plopped down on the floor.
"From the day of our rebirth until now, we have taken many measures to gather Faith Power, yet the results have been minimal." Andre analyzed the situation with utmost seriousness.
Qin Yi lowered his head, somewhat ashamed. Since their rebirth, Andre had helped them so much, yet he had given far too little in return.
"Furthermore, Earth's spiritual energy is far too scarce. The two of you have already embarked upon the path of cultivating godhood. This step-by-step, mediocre life on Earth is no longer suitable for you. Though I feel somewhat apologetic, I must warn you again: I was plotted against and stranded in this plane. I do not know which god wishes to harm me. But whoever it is, anyone daring to stretch their black hand toward me possesses strength beyond what we can resist at this stage. I do not know how long this peaceful life can continue, but I must tell you this. You are now one with me. If that god truly discovers us..."
Qin Rong and Qin Yi looked at each other as a thread of unease gradually rose in their hearts.
"So before that god discovers us, we must cultivate diligently. Only by becoming stronger can we deal with those enemies." Andre gave his concluding statement.
"Earth is no longer suitable for you. Don't waste your time on useless things!"
Early the next morning, Qin Yi had barely gotten out of bed before dressing and preparing to go to the main residence to speak with Grandpa, only for Qin Rong to stop him. "You're not going to school today?"
"What school? I think the Rainbow Continent is pretty good. If Mom and Dad spend some time there soaking in the atmosphere, maybe they can cultivate too. Wouldn't that be much better than here? Besides, Andre said the Rainbow Continent has far more spiritual energy than Earth, which will benefit our cultivation. After all, Andre is right. We have no idea how powerful his enemy really is. But if we want to help Andre return home, we will inevitably meet that person. So the best way is for us to become stronger too." Qin Yi spoke solemnly.
"Have you really decided to follow Andre's arrangements?" Qin Rong looked at Qin Yi as though he wanted to speak but held back. His younger brother had been accustomed to an easy life since childhood. Now that he had embarked on this path, who knew whether it would bring fortune or disaster?
"I don't mind, but I have to help Andre get home." After speaking, Qin Yi dragged Qin Rong downstairs with him.
Besides, Andre had secretly told him last night that his brother seemed to...
By the time they came downstairs, Qin Yi's mother, Tang Manru, had already made breakfast. Seeing Qin Yi up so early for once, she could not help asking in surprise, "Did the sun rise in the west today? Why are you up so early?"
Qin Yi said to Tang Manru with a grave expression, "Mom, after breakfast, we're going to Grandpa's place. We have something important to tell him, and you should come with us too!"
"What could possibly be so important?" Tang Manru asked with an amused look. "You're not going to school?"
"I'm not, Mom. Actually, I want to tell you something unbelievable. Sit down first, and I'll explain it slowly." An idea struck Qin Yi. He pulled Tang Manru, who was setting down dishes, into a chair, then dragged over Qin Dad, who was reading the newspaper. "What I'm about to tell you is strange, but it's all true. Don't be scared..."
Then Qin Yi told Qin Dad and Qin Mom every detail of what he had experienced since his rebirth. Only, for convenience's sake, he did not mention that he had been reborn, nor did he mention Andre's circumstances. He merely said that he had somehow gained the ability to travel through space, then slowly recounted how he had encountered Qin Shi Huang...
After hearing Qin Yi out, Qin Dad and Qin Mom looked at each other. Qin Mom leaned forward and placed a hand on Qin Yi's forehead. "This child doesn't have a fever, does he? Why is he talking nonsense?"
Qin Yi brushed Tang Manru's hand aside, then looked helplessly at Qin Rong. Just as expected!
"Mom, what Xiao Yi said is true." Seeing Qin Yi's pitiful expression, Qin Rong could not help speaking up. "And I've been cultivating for some time too."
As Qin Rong spoke, he used True Qi to lift the plate before him.
Qin Dad and Qin Mom stared wide-eyed at Qin Rong's actions, horror written across their faces. "Th-this..."
"So you believe us now, right?" Qin Yi said helplessly. Big Brother really knew what to do! Did he really look that untrustworthy?
In the end, Qin Dad and Qin Mom nodded, half-believing and half-doubting. This kind of thing was simply too fantastical. Qin Shi Huang had not died, and had even gone off to cultivate immortality? Even novels were not this outrageous! This was too shocking!
The group finished breakfast in mixed feelings, then drove to the main residence. Passing through layer after layer of artificial hills and flower-lined paths, they headed straight into Grandpa's study. The old man was leisurely teasing a bird. Seeing this whole group of people, he immediately said with a cheerful smile, "It's Xiao Rong and Xiao Yi! Why aren't you in school today?"
"Grandpa, do you recognize this?" Having learned his lesson this time, Qin Yi handed over the jade token Fusu had given him before saying anything else.
Old Master Qin had been smiling at everyone, but the moment his gaze landed on the jade token, his pupils suddenly contracted. After being stunned for a long while, he finally asked, "How do you have this?"
"Crown Prince Fusu gave it to me." Qin Yi smiled, his expression mysterious.
Old Master Qin looked uncertainly at Qin Yi, then rose and took a dark wooden box from among the dazzling array of books in the study, placing it on the table. Then he closed his eyes, put both hands on the box, and applied a slight force...
Qin Yi and Qin Rong were both startled. Though it was extremely faint, they could actually sense True Force circulating within Old Master Qin's body.
The box opened with a snap. Old Master Qin took out a jade token identical to the one Qin Yi had brought and compared them. Then he slowly said, "After thousands of years, I have finally seen it again..."
Qin Yi and the others looked at one another.
Old Master Qin gazed at the jade token in his hand with a nostalgic expression. He motioned for them to sit in the study before slowly asking, "Tell Grandpa how you came to obtain this jade token."
Seeing Old Master Qin's demeanor, Qin Yi cleared his throat and slowly repeated what he had just said.
"..."
After Qin Yi finished his account, his mouth dry and tongue parched, Old Master Qin still wore a nostalgic expression. He stared distantly out the window, seemingly recalling something.
After a long while, he finally spoke in a faint voice. "So many years... so long that even I am close to forgetting... Who still remembers His Majesty the First Emperor's glory?"
Qin Yi had already noticed something unusual when Old Master Qin displayed his True Force. Now, hearing him say this, he understood even more. He exchanged a glance with Qin Rong and quietly listened as Old Master Qin began recounting the past.
"In those days, the Qin dynasty perished with Qin Er Shi. We were not overthrown by mortals, but thrown into chaos by a demon beast that had secretly descended into the mortal realm. Hu Hai, the Second Emperor, made a prompt decision and secretly sent the treasures from the imperial treasury, along with some gifted children, out of the palace. From then on, we concealed our names and identities, striving to survive while waiting for an opportunity to find His Majesty the First Emperor, who had shattered the void and reached another plane. Who could have known that we would wait for thousands of years? Aside from those in the family born with talent for cultivation, the rest were raised as ordinary people and went into business. Yet Earth's spiritual energy grew ever thinner, until now there is not a single Core Formation cultivator to be found in the entire clan... The First Emperor's glory had completely become a legend. We all thought the Qin family bloodline would fall dormant in our generation. Who would have thought..."
At this point, Old Master Qin drew a deep breath, his hands trembling as they caressed the jade token. "All of this is actually true. At last, I have not failed our ancestors!"
Seeing Old Master Qin's agitated appearance, Qin Yi scratched his head, not knowing what to say.
"Xiao Yi, you said you can take all of us to that plane together?" After reminiscing for some time, Old Master Qin asked again.
"Probably!" Qin Yi said. Andre's space was so vast; there was no reason it could not be done!
"You're saying that even without the He Clan Jade, you can send everyone over?" Old Master Qin confirmed once more.
"No problem." This time, Qin Yi could see Old Master Qin's gravity and answered with certainty.
"Good. I must discuss this with the elders first." Old Master Qin closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "Qin Rong, Qin Yi, the two of you will come with me."
Qin Yi instinctively glanced at Qin Rong. Seeing him nod, he nodded in agreement as well.
The Qin family's main residence was enormous, its buildings resembling an ancient garden. They followed winding corridors, turning this way and that, occasionally passing through artificial hills and flower caves. Qin Yi walked until he was nearly dizzy before they arrived before an artificial hill much like the previous ones.
Old Master Qin first looked alertly in all directions to make sure there was no one else around. Only then did he wave Qin Yi and Qin Rong over and lead them into the artificial hill.
Qin Yi had assumed this artificial hill was like the others. But after entering, Old Master Qin lit a torch, then walked up to a stone wall and pressed somewhere unknown. The stone wall suddenly opened. Old Master Qin took the torch and entered the dark chamber first. Qin Yi rubbed his nose, glanced back at Qin Rong, then followed him down.
The stone walls on both sides made the stairs rather narrow, and the staircase seemed to spiral downward. Qin Yi followed it like he was walking through a maze for who knew how long, until he was nearly dizzy before reaching the end. Another stone wall stood before them. Qin Yi rolled his eyes.
Old Master Qin knocked here and felt there. The stone wall suddenly opened, and blinding light flooded in at once. Qin Yi followed behind Old Master Qin out of the cave. After walking a few more steps, the scene before him unfolded before his eyes, and Qin Yi's mouth fell open in shock!
How did The Peach Blossom Spring put it—
"At first it was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for one person to pass. After walking several dozen steps farther, everything suddenly opened up. The land was level and broad, the houses neatly arranged. There were fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees, bamboo groves, and the like. Paths crisscrossed one another, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard. People came and went, plowing and working; the men and women were dressed exactly like those outside. The yellow-haired elderly and the children with hanging locks all lived in peace and happiness."